Project GT: Winner’s Kit

Marshall Thomson spent years as a snowboarder and only began competing in ski-mountaineering races four years ago, but his rise to the American skimo circuit’s elite echelon has been nothing less than meteoric.

Last year, with partner Tom Goth, he won the 40-mile Elk Mountains Grand Traverse between Crested Butte and Aspen, Colorado, with a time of 7:40:54, after making the podium for the previous two years. And in mid-March of this winter, Thomson became the overall male US Ski Mountaineering National Champion in Crested Butte, after winning the vertical and team races and placing second in the individual competition.

Given the Grand Traverse’s length and remoteness, preparing, packing, and carrying the required gear requires serious forethought. So we caught up with Thomson to see exactly what he’ll bring from Crested Butte to Aspen in this year’s race, which begins at midnight on Friday, March 28, 2014. Check it out here:

18. Water System: two 17oz Hydropak bottles, one 50oz bladder, one 24oz bottle. “I use multiple water systems rather than one bladder because if your bladder freezes you are screwed. Each water source will have specific fuel: one with electrolytes only, one with Perpetuem, and one with gel-type fuel mixed with water.

19. Dynafit Speed Up racing suit

20. Dynafit Dy.N.A. skis, Dynafit RC1 bindings

21. Dynafit Dy.N.A. Evo racing poles

Marshall Thomson (center) on the podium at the US Ski Mountaineering National Championships in Crested Butte, Colorado, in March, where he won two races, placed second in another, and was crowned National Champion. Photo: Stevie Kremer.